[olywa]

I used to own an old-style Contender and I'm thinking about putting another one together in 44 Magnum to tote around with me when in the woods hiking, and maybe even do a little Blacktail hunting with it from time to time. I'm not really interested in other barrels either. I've just got a soft spot for the 44 Mag and miss not having one since I sold my Redhawk.

So my question is whether or not to buy a 10" G2 Contender, or should I consider the Encore. How closely do they compare? Is there a compelling reason to go with the Encore? I'd appreciate any input from those that have used both configurations.

 

[Redhawk1]

If you plan on just a 44 MAG, the G2 Contender is the way to go. It is a little smaller and lighter than the Encore. And this is coming from a guy with 4 Encore frames and 1 Contender frame. By the way, my Contender is a 10 inch 44 MAG.

 

[mjbgalt]

i agree, the encore is pretty bulky and if youre not planning on shooting rifle-type cartridges the g2 is the way to go.

-Matt

 

[olywa]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments. G2 it is.

 

[x-caliber]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind, but I'd have to go along with your decision. I only have barrels for the Encore in chamberings that "need" to be chambered in the Encore.

My favorite guns are my Contenders. Go with the Contender for the 44 Mag!!

X

 

[mjbgalt]

i had an encore pistol and held a g2 and liked it enough to buy one. now my encore is for sale and i cant get enough of the g2. i am going barrel collecting tomorrow lol.


-Matt

 

[Blunderbus]

The lone dissenter ... just to keep it interesting.

My Encore with a 12-inch .44 mag barrel does not feel any significantly heavier to carry or shoot offhand than a G2 with a 12-inch .22 LR barrel. This is sort of an apple-to-oranges comparison, I know, but it was enough to convince me not to trade my Encore for a G2. It sort of surprised me and put things in a different perspective. Obviously, lots of squirrel hunters think nothing about lugging around a G2 in .22 LR.

The Encore in .44 mag really is heavier than the G2 in the same caliber/barrel length. But I've grown to like the added recoil absorption. The Encore action can easily handle anything I want a .44 magnum to dish out. And if I want to dish out more, I can get a .454 Casull barrel. That's not an option for the G2.

No flies on the G2, though. It's all good.

Blunderbus

 

[jlevach]

I much prefer the Contender to the Encore

(so much I don't even own an Encore) but it seems to me for your use you would be better served by a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 with a 5.5 or 7.5 SuperBlackhawk. Simular size and weight to a Contender and all avaiable in 44 mag but for plinking and woods use perhaps better for your purposes. Just a thought
Jim L
Beware the man who owns more than 1 gun he has one for every occasion!

 

[olywa]

I hear you Jim. But I sold my 7.5" Redhawk last year because I couldn't remember the last time I needed a really fast follow-up shot. The simplicity of the single shot appeals to me and I like the fact that I'm not losing any "oomph" due to cylinder gap. I just wish the G2 was available in stainless.

 

[jlevach]

In that case

Check with Ed of Ed's contenders on a stainless contender frame and a 10" or 12" bull barrel in 44 magnum. I would sugest a 6" but I fear the recoil would be too intence. Put a pachmayr presentation grip and forend on it to reduce felt recoil a bit and you are good to go. For a belt holster I like the Hunter brand simple functional and good quality. (may haps you could add a 6.5" 22lr barrel(and a box of shells) to your day pack for a bit of imprompt to plinking as well. A MTM ammo wallet woll keep you well suppilied with ammo for your 44. Just some ideas of mine hope they could be of some help
Jim L

 

[Catfish]

I`ve never shot a G-2 frame, but I do have 3 old Contender frames and 2 Encore frames. I shot the .44 mag. in both and am hear to tell you that I`ll never put a .44 mag. barrel on any of my Contender frames again, unless it to sell it. There is so much less recoil with the Encore. This from a guy that has 3 - .44 mag. revolvers, 2 - .454 revolvers and a .500 S&W. I don`t mind recoil, but those Contender frames eat up my middle finger with heave recoiling rounds, the Encore don`t.

 

[olywa]

Jim - Those are some good suggestions. Thanks.

Catfish - I didn't realize that the difference in felt recoil was so great. But I've heard that the G2 frame dimensions have been opened up a bit so hopefully that will help.

Any G2 owners want to chime in regarding their take on felt recoil with the G2 versus the old Contender?

 

[Special Ed]

I can't compare the G2-vs-old Contender, but if it wasn't for Mag-na-port, I wouldn't own a 44 mag barrel.

 

[jlevach]

Do you really need full bore magnum loads?

or will some medium loads do just fine? Like say about 15 grains of 2400 and the 250 Kieth gas-checked bullet? or a simular load? If you went to a 45 long Colt you could even go to a 6.5" barrel and have a damn fine woods gun. I really like my 6.5" barreled Contenders, I even have one in 9mm so as to be able to use the cheap winchester white box ammo from the local wally world. I really want one in 45 acp and perhaps a 38 special too. they do look really cute in that mode. mayhaps i could find a octogon 357 and have it cutdown and front sight re tapped to make a 38/357 shorty? sounds like a good idea!
Jim L

 

[buzztail]

I've been thinking about getting another T/C myself, but have not been around them in ten years. Encore stuff is new to me. I gather that the frame itself is larger for the more robust chamberings. I would like to get into a 30-30, a .223, and some of the hotrod 22s. but have no idea what frame I should be pointing my wallet at.......suggestions?

 

[mjbgalt]

i like the contender because all the old barrels you can get a good deal on fit it. and also because its smaller and lighter.

you have to make your own decision...make sure you pick em both up before buying one. that was my mistake and it cost me 100 bucks in resale of ym encore so i could pick up a g2.

-Matt

 

[mjbgalt]

oh, and for my 500th post,

the g2 can handle the chamberings you mention so it would be my choice. the encore is a nice gun and i liked it a heck of a lot but it was bulky and i didnt need it to shoot .357 and .223, and i couldnt get my 17hmr and 22lr barrels so i sold it.

-Matt